"Asking Heaven" is the first experimental module docked with Tiangong Space Station. It is the second module of China Space Station and the first scientific experiment module. The space shuttle module consists of a working module, an airlock module and a resource module, with a takeoff weight of about 23 tons. It is mainly used to support astronauts' stay and exit activities, carry out space science experiments, and can also be used as a backup of the space shuttle module to manage the space station.
This mission is the first time that China Space Station welcomes manned spacecraft. At the same time, the segmentation of the experimental cabin is also the heaviest load launched by China so far. On July 24, 2022, Beijing time, 14: 22: 22, the Long March 5 B-3 carrier rocket carrying the candlestick experimental module was ignited and launched successfully at the Wenchang Space Launch Site in China.
At 3: 13, July 25th, 2022, Beijing time, the candlestick experimental module was successfully docked with the forward port of Tianhe core module. On July 25th, 2022, at 10: 03, the Shenzhou XIV astronaut successfully opened the hatch and entered the experimental cabin. Since the manned space station appeared in the 1970s.
As a large spacecraft for many astronauts to visit, live and work for a long time, the construction of space station has attracted the attention of the world's space powers. The main features of the space station are large volume, long service life and strong function, which can be taken care of for a long time and develop space resources on a large scale. But it can't go back and forth between heaven and earth, and people and goods need to be sent or retrieved by manned spacecraft or space shuttle.
System composition:
The candlestick experimental cabin consists of three parts: working cabin, airlock cabin and resource cabin. The axial length of the module is 17.9 meters, the maximum diameter of the module is 4.2 meters, and a small mechanical arm is arranged outside the module. Outside the airlock cabin and the resource cabin, an extravehicular experimental platform is arranged to install the actual (test) load outside the cabin. The tail adopts truss structure, and the solar pool wing with two degrees of freedom and its driving mechanism are installed.
The candlestick experimental module is equipped with the same living facilities for astronauts as the core module, including three sleeping areas, 1 sanitary area and a kitchen, which can guarantee the life of astronauts. It can also work with the core module to support the life of six astronauts during the rotation of two manned spacecraft; At the same time, a small manipulator is equipped outside the cabin, which can be used alone or in conjunction with the large manipulator in the core cabin.